The Engineering Informer - South Dakota Engineering Society

E A S T E RN
C H A P T E R
N E W S L E T T E R
S D E S
M E M B E R S
O F
T H E
N AT I O N A L S O C I E T Y O F
P RO F E S S I O N A L E N G I N E E R S
DECEMBER 10, 2012
ISSUE #22
PO BOX 1512
SIOUX FALLS, SD
57101
The Engineering Informer
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
BY JEFFERY HINES—PE
TREASURER’S
REPORT
2
CALENDAR
2
WINTER SOCIAL
3
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
3
BILL BRINKER
4
JIM DORNBUSH
4
MEMBER BIO
5
WEBEX LOGIN
6
MISC.
6
ADVERTISMENTS
7
WebEx: this month’s presentation will be broadcast on
WebEx so please plan on
tuning in on the web if you
can’t be here in person! See
the instructions on how to
use WebEx on page 6 of this
newsletter.
IMPORTANT
NEWS
NEXT MEETING:
There is no regular meeting in
December. Please attend the
Winter Social at Cherry Creek
Grill on December 20th starting at 4:30.
Well, Thanksgiving has already come
and gone, and the Holidays are in full
swing………except for cold weather and
snow. The forecast says that we might
have some of both by the time you read
this, so keep your fingers crossed. As
you enjoy this season with friends and
family, please remember two of our long
time members that we recently lost.
This month, both Bill Brinker and Dr.
James Dornbush left us, but not without
a legacy of wonderful relationships and
continuous and unwavering support for
both this organization and for the profession. Reminds me that we only have
a short time to positively affect others
and to enjoy what life has to offer for all
of us. Please keep both their families in
your thoughts and prayers this holiday
season.
Again, I would like to remind everyone
of the importance of “giving back” to our
profession, and to thank all of those
active members that we all count on to
volunteer each year. I would challenge
all of you who have not actively participated to get involved in at least one activity this year. The time you spend will
be well rewarded and appreciated.
A reminder that the SDES Winter Social
will be held at the Cherry Creek Grill on
Thursday, December 20, 2012. Last
year was a great success and I hope to
see everyone for a repeat this year. It’s
a great opportunity for getting to know
your fellow members better and catching up during the holidays. It’s a very
low key event with no formal program.
Please make a point to reserve a couple
of hours to come and have some holiday cheer with us.
We’ve added five more new members
this month. Please welcome Jesse Morris, Brian Meyer, Dan Nebelsick and Patrick Deering. all from DGE. Also, please
welcome Nicholas Ritter from the City of
Sioux Falls. We have now added 23
new members this year. Way to go
members!
Erin Steever and the eWeek committee
are also well into the planning of eWeek
activities and the Awards banquet for
February. Please review the detailed
information about this upcoming event
and volunteer requests that Erin has
provided elsewhere in this newsletter.
The 2013 Annual Conference planning
is well underway. Shannon Schulz, Phil
Gundvalson and the committee have
taken this important project on with a
passion. They are well into the planning
process and are actively lining up
speakers. Because of venue problems,
we have had to move the dates of the
conference to May 1-3, 2013, so be
sure to mark this on your calendars.
Because of the winter social, the Christmas holiday and meetings related to the
annual conference, we have decided to
cancel this month’s meeting at the Pizza
Ranch. Hope to see you all at the Winter Social at Cherry Creek Grill.
Happy Holidays to all.
G. Jeffery Hines
EASTERN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER SDES
Page 2
TREASURER’S REPORT
BY RAY PIERSON, PE
Balance as of 12/3/12
Previous General Fund Balance (11/6/12)
$
14,250.49
$
(120.18)
Expenses:
Swiftel Center (PE Exam lunches) $ (120.18)
IMPORTANT
CALENDAR ITEMS
EASTERN CHAPTER MEETINGS:
Total

January 8, 11:30 @ Pizza Ranch on
41st Street
Deposits:

February 12, 11:30 @ Pizza Ranch
on 41st Street
Total
$
-

Total General Fund
$
14,130.31

March 12, 11:30 @ Pizza Ranch on
41st Street
April 9, 11:30 @ Pizza Ranch on
41st Street
Previous Scholarship Fund Balance (11/6/12)
$
9,086.64

May 14, 11:30 @ Pizza Ranch on
41st Street
Expenses:
$
Total
Eastern Chapter Winter Social
December 20, 4:30PM
@ Cherry Creek Bar and Grill
-
$
-
E-Week
February 18—23, 2013
Deposits:
Total
$
-
Total Scholarship Fund
$
9,086.64
Total Account Balance
$ 23,216.95
Eastern Chapter Annual Banquet
February 23, 2013
@ Washington Pavilion
PE & FE Exam Dates
PE
FE
Apr 12
Oct 25
Apr 13
Oct 26
Apr 11
Oct 24
Apr 12
Oct 25
Applications Due
2013
Jan 1
July 1
2014
Jan 1
July 1
To add a calendar item, please contact Josh
Peterson at JPeterson@siouxfalls.org
EASTERN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER, SDES
Page 3
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY—ERIN STEEVER, PE
E-Week is February 18-22, 2013. We will be teaming up with the Washington Pavilion’s Kirby Science Discovery Center
and offer volunteer opportunities to promote engineering throughout the whole month of February.
Volunteers are needed for 1st Fridays at the Washington Pavilion on Friday, February 1, 2013 from 5pm to 9pm, 1 hour
shifts or volunteer for the whole night. We will be promoting engineering with an interactive laser level demonstration at
15 past the hour every hour, and have three activity stations set up on the second floor of the Kirby Science Center. This
will be our main E-Week activity for the month. First Fridays are free admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center so
invite your family and friends to come out and learn more about engineering in February!
Female engineer volunteers are needed for STEM Girls (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) from February 26
through the 28 from 4-4:45 to talk with a group of 10 elementary and middle school girls from low income school districts about what engineering is and what led you to become an engineer. The Washington Pavilion is working with these
groups of girls for the full school year. They all have interests in science, technology, engineering and/or math. This
quarter will focus on engineering. Volunteer for one, two or three of these sessions. There will be a new group of girls
each day.
Lastly, if you like to tinker and are interested in building a Truffla Tree Planter to be put on display at the Washington Pavilion please let me know. The Kirby Science Center’s next big exhibit will be from The Lorax, written by Dr Seuss. The
2013 Design Challenge is a Truffla Tree Planter. The Science Center is hoping to find an engineer or two to put something creative together to generate interest and provide an example of the design challenge. The contraption will need to
follow the design guidelines, be constructed of recycled material, and be completed before the exhibit’s arrival in March.
Contact Erin Steever at erins@bannerassociates.com or 605-977-6342 to get more information or volunteer for any of
these events.
EASTERN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER, SDES
Page 4
TWO LONGTIME MEMBERS WILL BE MISSED
BILL BRINKER
(from obituary) Bill Brinker passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 17th, 2012 while celebrating with his fellow Jackrabbits at his beloved alma-mater SDSU.
Bill was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Vic and Lois Brinker on
March 9, 1949. He graduated O'Gorman High School and went onto receive his Undergraduate and Master's Degree in Civil Engineering with an
emphasis on Waste Water Treatment at SDSU. With his passion for work
he began a job at the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Sioux Falls where
his dedication led him to a management position. Beyond that he successfully, joyously, and with such love joined and grew within HDR Engineering
where he was currently a Senior Vice President to a career that surpassed
his passion for Civil Engineering. Today the family celebrates the awesome life Billy lived and they mourn for
the future memories he will be heartbreakingly missed. Bill is a husband, father, colleague, friend, caregiver,
scholastic, competitor, jokester, mentor and the man anyone would be lucky to have in their life.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbie; blessed children, Chris (Alex), Jason (Samantha), Carrie (Jesse);
father, Vic; Siblings, Kenny (Family), Lynnette (Family); Uncle Mike (Amy, Teri and Families) and so many
other amazing family and friends. We love you Brink Dog! You will be eternally missed!
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to South Dakota State University College of Engineering.
Funeral services will begin 10:30 am Saturday, November 24th at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Interment
will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation begins at 12 noon on Friday at Miller Funeral Home, Main Avenue
location, with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 that evening.
JAMES DORNBUSH
(from obituary) James N. Dornbush, 84, retired SDSU professor of civil engineering, died Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at the Brookings Hospital. Funeral services
will be 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at First Presbyterian Church in Brookings,
with interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-7 P.M. Monday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. In lieu of flowers, memorials may
be directed to scholarships at the SDSU Civil Engineering Department or the
SDSU Athletic Department.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine Dornbush, of Brookings; two daughters: Denise Dornbush of Brookings and Renee (James) Wood of Destin, Florida; and a
granddaughter, Megan Renee Wood. He was preceded in death by his parents,
a brother, Louis, and a nephew Daniel.
EASTERN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER, SDES
GETTING TO
KNOW YOU
Member Bio
Bartlett & West, Inc.
5900 S Western Ave., Suite 101
Sioux Falls, SD
Phone: 605-274-7415
Fax: 605-274-7417
ADAM NORMAN, PE
Page 5
A brief history… I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, SD. I have two
brothers and one sister. In 2000 I graduated from O'Gorman High
School and went to SDSU to graduate with a Civil Engineering Degree in 2004. This came as no surprise to my family since my father, brothers, and two uncles, and aunt are also engineers. After
constant prodding from my advisor I finished my thesis in 2011 to
obtain my master's degree.
In 2006 I moved to Des Moines, IA to work for Bartlett & West.
Shortly after I moved back to the promise land where I worked for
HR Green. At the end of 2008 I returned to Bartlett & West in their
Sioux Falls office where I've continued to work on water and
wastewater treatment projects.
In 2011 I met my wife Valerie. We have a son Kaden who is learning new things everyday which keeps our family in constant laughter. Soon we will be teaching him the basics for engineering since it
appears to be a
family career.
Degree:
SDSU—B.S. in Civil & Environmental
Engineering 2004, M.S. 2011
Favorite Quote:
"If you're talking, you're not listening" -- unknown
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR MEMBER OF THE MONTH:
Family: Wife Valerie, Son Kaden
Pet Peeves: A cat named Neuty!!
Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Job title and years with firm: Sr. Project Engineer, 4.1
years
Favorite Room in Your House: The one that is clean
and tidy (rare occurance these days)!!
Normal Breakfast: Granola bar with a strong cup of
coffee
Last DVD Purchased: Leap Frog - It's amazing what
you'll buy to keep your kid quiet!
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, and home improvement projects
Favorite beverage: Diet Mt. Dew and Coffee
What do you collect? Can never have enough guns
Best Personality Trait: Listening…although my wife will
disagree!
Pets: A cat named Neuty (came with the wife)
Favorite TV Show: The Big Bang Theory
Favorite season: Fall (Hunting & Fishing)
What made you want to be an engineer? Let's just say
it runs in the family...My dad, two brothers, aunt, and
two uncles are all civil engineers.
What do you like best about being an engineer? Being
able to apply our problem solving skills and ingenuity to
'challenges' outside of work.
Briefly describe a significant event in your personal life:
The birth of my son…it's at this moment, when you first
hold him, you realize that this experience is the best
opportunity of witnessing a miracle.
Favorite place: My honeymoon in Jamaica…enough
said!
EASTERN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER, SDES
We are on the web
http://www.sdes.org/
2010-2011 OFFICERS
AND CHAIRPERSONS
President
Jeffery Hines, PE
President Elect
Phil Gundvaldson, PE
Vice President
Ryan Johnson, PE
Secretary/Treasurer
Ray Pierson, PE
Chapter Director(2nd term)
Travis Clark, PE
Chapter Director(1st term)
Brett Runge, PE
State Director
Kristen Gundvaldson, PE
Past President
Pat Schwebach, PE
Chapter Nominations
Ray Pierson, PE
Membership
Jason Kjenstad, PE
Mathcounts
Phil Gundvaldson, PE
Scholarship
Chris Jibben, PE
Public Relations
Ryan Johnson, PE
E-Week
Brett Runge, PE
Events Coordinators
Erin Steever, PE
Gabe Laber, PE
Awards
Brad Ludens, PE
Audio/Visual IT
Chad Stensland, PE
Newsletter
Joshua Peterson, PE
Membership List
Myron Adam, PE
Page 6
For any and all newsletter articles, additions, edits, corrections, and important
dates,
CONTACT:
JOSHUA PETERSON, PE
CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, PUBLIC WORKS
224 W NINTH STREET
PO BOX 7402
SIOUX FALLS, SD 57117-7402
605-367-8616
jpeterson@siouxfalls.org
Webex Login Instructions
Navigate your internet browser to:
https://sdes-eastern.webex.com
Select the meeting date from the calendar in the “Browse Meetings” Window.
Click the “Register” link by the monthly
meeting.
Fill in your first name, last name, email
address and hit the “Register Now” button at the bottom.
A registration email will be sent with all
the information to log into the meeting.
SDES MISSION STATEMENT
SDES is the state society of engineers from all
disciplines that promotes the ethical and competent practice of engineering, advocates licensure, enhances the image of its members,
and advocates legislation and public policy for
the betterment of human welfare and the profession.
For all State Society membership information and other business, contact:
Gail Boddicker, Executive Director
SDES
Rapid City, SD 57709
605-394-6674
Gail.Boddicker@sdsmt.edu
EASTERN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER, SDES
Page 7
EASTERN CHAPTER NEWSLETTER, SDES
Page 8
Engineers Supporting SDES Eastern Chapter: Shannon Ausen, Andy
Berg, Tom Berkland, Mark Cotter, Jeff DesLauriers, Jeff Dunn, Kerry
Ellis, Larry Fassett, Rod Harms, Heath Hoftiezer, Chad Huwe, Ryan
Johnson, Dena Knutson, Brett Lovro, Brad Ludens, Jacob Maras, John
Osman, Kurt Peppel, Mark Perry, Josh Peterson, Wes Philips, Nick
Ritter, Tim Stefanich, Curt Struck, Josh VandenBos, Shannon VerHey,
Robbie Veurink
To advertise in this publication, contact Joshua
Peterson at: jpeterson@siouxfalls.org
The cost is $75 for a standard business card-size
advertisement.
Thank you to all of you who continue to generously
support the Eastern Chapter of SDES.